The Nova Scotian Institute of Science (NSIS) sponsors an annual Student Science and Technology Writing Competition. Effective communication is an important aspect of science, technology, engineering and math-based professions. Through this competition the Nova Scotian Institute of Science helps promote the development of communications skills in young and emerging scientists.

The competition evaluates submissions from currently registered Nova Scotia Community College students, Undergraduate and Graduate Students at a Nova Scotian Universities, as well as High School Students in grades 10-12 registered at a NS public, private school, or First Nations school. Full Essay submissions received by the coordinators on or before the deadline are eligible.

Prizes will be awarded to the highest scoring submissions in three categories as evaluated by our pool of judges.

• A minimum prize of $600 will be awarded for a Community College or Undergraduate Student submission.
• A minimum prize of $600 will be awarded for a Graduate Student submission.
• A minimum prize of $300 will be awarded for a High School Student Submission

*Note that all prizes are subject to increase depending on additional competition sponsorship and final scores. Honorable mentions and additional prizes may be awarded in situations where there are essays scoring as a close second or third in a given category.

Other perks to submitting a paper:

• Students will receive constructive feedback to improve their science communication and writing skills.
• All students who submit an essay by the deadline will be offered a free 1-year membership in the NSIS.
• The winning and other high-quality submissions may be posted on the NSIS website (with consent of the author) and winning authors may be invited to submit their paper to the Proceedings of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science, a peer-reviewed, Atlantic Canadian scientific journal.
• Winning students will be featured on the NSIS website (with consent to use their photo and disclose their name and school or university)